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17 THE CITY OF s 0....01 °° I III CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT - - pLEASANTON® September 7, 2021 Community Development TITLE: P21-0636 AND P21-0637, CITY OF PLEASANTON — CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN AND INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTERS 18.08 AND 18.81 OF THE PLEASANTON MUNICIPAL CODE, REGARDING THE ACTIVE GROUND FLOOR USE OVERLAY SUMMARY The updated Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) was adopted by City Council on August 20, 2019. The updated DSP includes an overlay referred to as the Active Ground Floor Use Overlay (AGFUO) and establishes policy regarding active ground floor uses that prohibits non-active uses on the ground floor along Main Street. Active ground floor uses are defined as uses that promote an active pedestrian environment on the ground floor of a commercial building, including retail establishments and restaurants. Although active ground floor uses are generally required within the overlay, a non-active - use may occupy a ground floor tenant space even though it is subject to the requirements of the overlay, subject to meeting specific criteria. A limited number of other exceptions are provided for, such as when a tenant space is subject to extended vacancy, or for purpose-built bank buildings. Subsequent to an appeal heard by Planning Commission earlier in 2021 regarding a multi-use tenant space, City Council directed staff to schedule the AGFUO for discussion and potential modification. In keeping with the direction provided by City Council at its meeting on June 1, staff drafted changes to the DSP and the Pleasanton Municipal Code (PMC) and solicited feedback from the Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA), Chamber of Commerce, and a recommendation from the Planning Commission. This topic is now before the City Council for a final decision. PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION The Planning Commission recommended the City Council approve the proposed draft amendments to the DSP and the PMC at its July 28, 2021, meeting, with modifications to staffs recommendation that are discussed in this report. The Commission also recommended that as a future discussion item, to consider revising the DSP and PMC to allow only an active use or a personal service business to occupy ground floor tenant spaces after a six-month long vacancy rather than any use whatsoever as is currently allowed.